Locker handle assembly



Feb. 6, 1968 w. P. WALKER. SR 3,367,598

LOCKER HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed March 50, 1966 2 sheetswsheet 1 f? I l L42L}.:

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Feb. 6, 1968 J w. P. WALKER, SR 3,367,698

LOCKER HANDLE AS SEMBLY Filed March so, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,367,698 LQCKER HANDLE ASSEMBLY William PaulWalker, Era, King of Prussia, Pa., assignor to Peace Products Inc.,Oaks, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 30, 1966, Ser. No.538,766 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-18S) ABSTRAET OF THE DISELDSURE Steel lockersof the type used in gymnasiums and schools have swinging doors locked bya handle assembly and a sliding latch mechanism. The present inventionprovides an improved locker handle assembly for actuating the latchmechanism, wherein the locker handle rotates within a base enclosurewhereby the assembly is protected from abuse such as force from kicking,and unauthorized entry into the locker is prevented.

This invention relates to a handle and latch actuating assembly for useon locker cabinets and the like having a swingable door, and moreparticularly to a handle means actuating a latching mechanism uponmovement of the handle means, the cabinet being provided with a suitablelock associated therewith either built in with the mechanism or in theform of a padlock.

The handle and latch assembly of this invention, while not intended tobe limited to the same, is particularly applicable to lockers such asare found in school gymnasiums and the like where it must be capable ofwithstanding sharp blows or kicks from books or other similar objects.Such handles must also present no exposed elements or parts which wouldaid in the dismantling or prying apart of the handle assembly.

It is therefore an object with this invention to provide a handle andlatch assembly that is capable of withstanding efforts to forcefullyenter the cabinet once the assembly is in a locked position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latchassembly that is mounted to the door in such a manner as to conceal allfasteners and operating parts in order to discourage and prevent onefrom breaking into the cabinet.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latchactuating assembly for opening the door of a locker cabinet wherein thelatching mechanism is actuated upon the natural pulling movement of ahandle means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latchassembly that returns the latching mechanism to a latched position uponrelease of the handle means thereby allowing the door to be merelypushed shut to re-engage the latching mechanism Without requiringmovement of the handle means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide latches for the doormounted for movement to unlatch the door in response to actuation of thelatching mechanism and for movement independent of the mechanism tolatch the door when the door is closed, so as to provide a smooth andautomatic door closing operation without requiring movement of thehandle means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for lockingthe latching mechanism against relative movement in order to provide alock for the cabinet.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a locking means thatis incapable of locking the latching mechanism in an unlatched position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for lockingthe latching mechanism against rela- 3,367,698 Patented Feb. e, was

tive movement whether the door is opened or closed, the cabinet beinglatched and locked when the door is closed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latchassembly that not only resists breakage but is simple to operate andeconomical to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latchassembly and latch mechanism constructed from a minimum number of parts.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the followingdescription of the drawings wherein like numbers designate like parts.

FIGURE 1 is -a partial perspective view of a locker cabinet showing thehandle and latch assembly of this invention aflixed thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the handle as seen from thefront of the locker.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary right side view of the handle taken along thelines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 omitting the latch mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the latch mechanism taken along thelines 44 of FIGURE 2 with the locker door in a closed position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of the inside of the locker door, thedoor frame having been broken away to reveal the latching mechanism in alatched and locked position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 6- 6 ofFIGURE 5, showing the handle and latch assembly in a latched position.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 with the handle and latchassembly in an unlatched position.

With reference to the drawings and in particular with reference toFIGURE 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the handle and latchassembly of this invention applied to a locker cabinet 10. The cabinethas a swingable door 11 hinged to the cabinet at 12 and provided withkeepers 13 on the frame 14 of the door adapted to be engaged by thelatch mechanism on the door. On the outside of the front of the door isa handle 15 and a key operated lock 50.

The handle 15, as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 is constructed from asingle piece of a suitably die cast alloy that has been chrome platedfor purposes of its appearance. The handle is composed of a plateportion 16 and an enlarged outer rim 17 extending vertically along thefront of the handle and up over the top to provide a gripping surfacefor operating the handle. The handle is operatively associated with abase plate 18 that is also suitably constructed from a single piece ofdie cast alloy carrying pivot point 20, integral therewith, adapted tobe engaged by pivot slot 21 in the plate portion of the handle 15. Thebase plate 18 includes a bifurcated portion 22 extending outwardly fromthe base creating a slot 23 between the two portions. On each portion isa hole 24 aligning with a hole 25 in the plate 16 of the handle when thelatch assembly is in a latched position as shown in FIGURE 6.

In assembly the handle is inserted through the slot 23 in the base plateso that the pivot slot 21 in the handle plate engages the pivot point20, the handle plate 16 extending through an opening 23' in the baseplate cooperating with the slot 23 between the bifurcated portions 22.Integrally attached to the handle plate and extending through the baseplate 18 is a yoke portion 26 and a limit or stop arm 27. The assembledhandle and base plate is then secured around a suitable opening 28 inthe door of the locker, the part of the handle plate extending beyondthe base plate being inserted through this opening.

Attached to the door prior to inserting the handle is a rubber orsuitable elastic element 29 snap fitted on to the door to provide acushioning for the limit of travel of the handle plate. The handleassembly is secured to the door in such a manner that the yoke 26 of thehandle plate will engage a pin 30 of the latching mechanism which is tobe described below. The hook portion of the limit arm 27 of the handleplate engages the inside of the rubber bumper 2 when the handle ispulled to an open position as shown in FIGURE 7 thus acting as a limitor stop for the handle.

The base plate 18 is securely attached to the door by first engaging thetab 31 at the bottom of the plate inside of the door at the bottom ofthe opening 32, a stud 33 integrally attached to the base plate passingthrough a hole in the door to which is threaded a self-threading nut 34.It can now be seen that once the handle assembly is secured to the doorthat it is held flush with the same providing no projecting surfaceunder which a tool could be applied to jimmy off the mechanism.Additionally no securing element such as a pivot pin, screw, bolt, etc.is exposed which would aid in the removal of the mechanism from thecabinet. Additionally two lugs 28 are provided on the base plate oneither side of the handle plate which extend through the opening 28 inthe door of the locker. These lugs make the locker handle substantiallykickproof by protecting the stud 34 against shearing due to theapplication of sharp blows to the handle assembly.

When the handle is in a closed position, the handle plate covers up allopenings that extend into the interior of the latching mechanism thuspreventing one from gaining access to the mechanism with a tool throughthese openings. The top of opening 28 in the door prevents the handleplate 16 from being lifted upward out of the pivot 28 after the assemblyhas been secured to the door.

The vertical latch mechanism operated by the pivotal movement of thehandle plate 17 acting against pin 30 consists of bar 35, with the pin36 connected across two sides of the bar as shown in FIGURE 4. The latchbar is secured within the frame work 37 of the door by suitable tubularspring clips 36 secured to the frame 37 of the door and extendingthrough the door, the clips extending through slots 38 in the latch bar.The frame 37 extends around and protects the latch mechanism from beingtampered with by the insertion of tools through the doorjamb as shown inFIGURE 4.

The latch mechanism consists of latches or finger clips 39 suitably madeof nylon or other relatively frictionless material having a dependingportion 40 adapted to fit within openings 41 in the keepers 13. Withinthe body of the clip is a well 42 containing a tubular spring 43 whichfunctions as an aid in installing the clips and also keeping them in theproper position for latching the door. In assembly the clip is insertedthrough an opening 44 in the latch bar from the right in FIGURE 6 andpushed upwardly to the position shown in phantom, the edge 45 of the barat the top of the opening 44 extending into a slot 4-6 and engaging thetop of spring 43. The spring is compressed until the lip 47 of the clipcan pass over the bottom edge 48 of the opening. The spring then pushesthe clip back into the operating position between the edges 45 and 48 asshown in full in FIGURE 6. The slot 46 in the clip extends across thewidth of the clip and limits the range of movement of the clip to thevertical direction only as it slides with respect to the latch bar inopposition to the spring as described with respect to the closingoperation.

Upon pivotal movement of the handle plate outwardly, the yoke 26 of thehandle plate moves upwardly against the pin 30 causing vertical movementof the entire latch bar. As shown in FIGURE 6, this raises the latch 39up and out of engagement with the keepers 13 allowing the door to beswung open by one and the same movement of the handle. It can be seenthat the stop arm 27 limits the amount of vertical travel of the latchbar as shown in FIGURE 7.

After the door has been opened and upon release of the handle, thehandle and the latching mechanism will fall back to a closed positiondue to their own weight.

Hence with the door open and the mechanism in a closed position one needmerely shut the door with a minimum of force wherein it willautomatically assume a latched position. This is caused by the dependingportion 40 of the latches 39 riding up the bevelled front edge 49 on thekeepers 13, the latches moving upwardly against the pressure of thesprings 43. When the clips reach the top of the keeper, the spring againforces them back down into the slot 41 of the keeper and hence into alatched position. It can be seen that the clips move relative to thelatch bar and that there is no movement of the latch bar or handle. Thusit is not necessary to pivot the handle again when it is desired toclose the door.

While only one clip is shown in the drawings, it will be understood thatany number can be secured to the latch bar with cooperating keepers onthe door frame. Three such latches would be provided for the lockercabinet in FIGURE 1.

Because the latches can move independently of the door, the lock for thelatch mechanism can be engaged while the door is in an open positionpermitting the door to be locked in addition to be latched when the dooris closed. A bumper or suitable resilient element 55 is secured to theside of the door frame 14 to cushion the door as it is closed.

The door may be locked by a key lock mechanism 50 suitably secured at 51to the inside of the door merely leaving a means for operating the lockexposed on the front of the door. The lock would operate a bolt 52adapted to engage within a slot 53 on the side of the latch bar onlywhen the latch bar was in a closed position, thereby preventing verticalmovement of the latch bar. Alternatively the shackle of a padlock 54 maybe inserted through the aligned holes 24 and 25 in the base plate andhandle plate respectively when the handle is in closed position in orderto lock the cabinet. As with the key lock, the latching mechanism canonly be secured against movement when it is in a closed or latchedposition, even though the door itself may be opened or closed wit-hrespect to the cabinet at the time the mechanism is placed in such alocked position.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention provides ahandle and latch assembly for a locker door that is resistant tounlawful entry, simply constructed and easy to install. The assemblyallows the door to be unlatched and opened upon the mere pulling of ahandle and requires only that the door be pushed shut to return the doorto a latched position without causing movement of the handle and latchassembly. Furthermore the latching mechanism can be locked wit-h thedoor open or closed, the door assuming a latched and locked positionwhen the door is merely pushed shut.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claimall such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A handle and latch actuating assembly for a swingable door providedwith a latching mechanism, wherein said assembly comprises a base plateadapted to be rigidly secured to the door having an opening thereinadapted to register with an opening in the door, said plate including anoutwardly extending portion that is bifurcated to provide a slot thereincooperating with the opening in the plate, the base plate including apivot integral therewith and disposed within the slot of the plate, thepivot mounting a handle plate in the slot extending through the openingsin the plate and the door, a protective portion integral with theoutwardly extending portion that is bifurcated and substantiallyenclosing the handle plate at the lower end of the slot, said pivotintegral with said protective portion, means for limiting the range ofpivotal movement of the handle plate through these openings, and latchactuating means integral with the handle positioned inwardly of thedoor, wherein pivotal and outward movement of the handle platesimultaneously actuates the latching mechanism, releasing the door andallowing it to be swung open.

2. A handle and l-atch actuating assembly according to claim 1,including aligned apertures on both sides of the slot of the base plate,a similar shaped aperture within the pivotal handle plate, saidapertures aligning for insertion of the shank of a padlock when thehandle is in a closed position, said lock thereby preventing movement ofthe handle plate and actuation of the latching mechanism.

3. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe latching mechanism comprises a latch bar operatively connected tosaid latch actuating means at an intermediate point, the latch barextending upwardly and downwardly from said assembly mounted forslidable movement with respect to the door, latches mounted to the latchbar, and keepers adapted to be engaged by the latches, wherein pivotaland outward movement of the handle actuates the latch bar causing thelatches to slide out of engagement with their keepers thereby allowingthe door to be opened.

4. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 3, includinga lock means mounted on the inside of the door accessible for operationonly from the front of the door engageable with the latch bar to preventrelative movement thereof in order to place the door in a lockedposition.

5. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 3, whereinthe latches are mounted for slidable movement against a resilientelement with respect to the latch bar, the keepers including an inclinedleading edge causing the latches to slide up and into engagement withthe keepers when the door is closed without necessitating movement ofthe latch bar.

6. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 5, whereinthe latches are mounted for slidable movement vertically withinapertures in the latch bar, the resilient element comprising a springdisposed within a well in the latch acting between the latch and an edgeof the aperture, wherein the latch slides in opposition to the spring asit rides up the edge of the keeper, the spring forcing the latch backdown into engagement with the keeper when the door is closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,294,009 2/1919 Williams292--148 X 1,594,650 8/1926 Vance. 2,063,806 3/ 1936 Baker et 2.1.2,518,141 8/1950 Hiler.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

I. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner.

